Purslane

Purslane is a low-growing succulent plant with fleshy leaves and cheerful flowers. It's easy to grow, easy to propagate and very happy in a sunny pot.

About This Plant

Purslane grows on fleshy stems that spread outward and can spill nicely over the edge of a container. The succulent leaves help the plant handle heat and periods of dry weather.

Planting Guide

Plant purslane in a sunny location with good drainage. It works especially well in pots, hanging containers and other places where its trailing growth has room to spread.

Sun

Give it plenty of sun. Bright sunlight encourages strong growth and flowering.

Water

Purslane is fairly drought tolerant once established, but plants growing in pots still need watering when the soil dries. Avoid keeping the soil constantly soggy.

Soil

Well-drained soil is the important part. Purslane doesn't need rich, constantly moist soil to be happy.

How Big Does It Get?

It stays fairly low but spreads outward on trailing stems, making it a good choice for the edge of a container.

Propagation

Stem cuttings are an easy way to make more plants. Pieces can be rooted and repotted, which is one of the ways I keep mine going.

General Care

Trim long or untidy stems to encourage fresh growth. Those trimmings can also become new plants instead of going to waste.

But Will It Come Back?

Purslane is generally grown as an annual, meaning an individual plant doesn't necessarily live from year to year.

But that doesn't mean you've seen the last of it. Purslane can produce plenty of seed, and those seeds can germinate later when conditions are right. That can make it seem as though the same plant returned.

If you'd like purslane again next year, let at least a few flowers mature and go to seed before trimming everything back. In a pot, you can even allow some of those seeds to fall right back into the soil.

Does It Spread?

Purslane can reseed and pieces of stem may root under favorable conditions. Growing it in containers makes it much easier to decide where you want it.

From My Garden

Mine are growing in pots, and I've been trimming them and repotting the cuttings to make more plants. I'm also going to let some flowers go to seed and see what comes back.

That's half the fun of this Garden grow it, experiment with it, and see what happens next.